PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in House · Mar 19, 1997
Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 1997 - Amends the Federal criminal code to prohibit any physician from knowingly performing a partial birth abortion in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce, unless it is necessary to save the life of the mother and no other medical procedure would suffice. Prescribes penalties. Defines a "partial birth abortion" as an abortion in which a person partially vaginally delivers a living fetus before killing the fetus and completing the delivery. Authorizes the father, if married to the mother at the time of the abortion, and the maternal grandparents of the fetus, if the mother is under 18 years of age, to obtain specified relief in a civil action, unless the pregnancy resulted from the plaintiff's criminal conduct or the plaintiff consented to the abortion. Prohibits the prosecution of a woman upon whom a partial-birth abortion is performed for conspiracy to violate this Act or under provisions regarding punishment as a principal or an accessory or for concealment of a felony.
People & committees
Rep. Solomon, Gerald B. H. [R-NY-22] · R–NY
Legislative record
A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Failed of passage in Senate over veto by Yea-Nay Vote. 64-36. Record Vote No: 277. (consideration: CR S10564)
Senate roll call 277 · Individual votesFailed of passage in Senate over veto: Failed of passage in Senate over veto by Yea-Nay Vote. 64-36. Record Vote No: 277.(consideration: CR S10564)
Senate roll call 277 · Individual votesVeto message considered in Senate. (consideration: CR S10551-10564)
Veto message considered in Senate by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S10474-10499, S10509-10513)
Veto message received in Senate. Ordered held at the desk.
Two-thirds of the Members present having voted in the affirmative the bill is passed, the objections of the President to the contrary notwithstanding. Passed by the Yeas and Nays (2/3 required): 296 - 132 (Roll No. 325). (consideration: CR H6212-6213)
House roll call 325 · Individual votesPassed House over veto: Two-thirds of the Members present having voted in the affirmative the bill is passed, the objections of the President to the contrary notwithstanding. Passed by the Yeas and Nays (2/3 required): 296 - 132 (Roll No. 325).(consideration: CR H6212-6213)
House roll call 325 · Individual votesDEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on the motion to pass the bill H.R. 1122, the objections of the President to the contrary notwithstanding.
H.R. 1122 discharged from Judiciary.
On motion to discharge Judiciary from further consideration of the veto message on H.R. 1122 Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 295 - 131 (Roll No. 321). (consideration: CR H6193-6201)
House roll call 321 · Individual votesThe previous question was ordered without objection.
DEBATE.
Mr. Canady moved that the House discharge Judiciary from further consideration of the veto message on H.R. 1122.
On motion to refer the bill and the accompanying veto message to the Committee on the Judiciary. Agreed to without objection.
Mr. Canady moved to refer the bill and accompanying veto message to the Committee on Judiciary.
The Chair laid before the House the veto message from the President.
Vetoed by President. (consideration: CR H8891-8892)
Vetoed by President.(consideration: CR H8891-8892)
Presented to President.
Presented to President.
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
On motion that the House agree to the Senate amendments Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 296 - 132 (Roll no. 500). (consideration: CR H8649-8663)
House roll call 500 · Individual votesResolving differences -- House actions: On motion that the House agree to the Senate amendments Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 296 - 132 (Roll no. 500).(consideration: CR H8649-8663)
House roll call 500 · Individual votesThe previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 262, the House proceeded with one hour of debate on the motion.
Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 262, the House moved to agree to the Senate amendments.
Rule H. Res. 262 passed House.
Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 262 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 1122 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit. Upon adoption of this resolution it shall be in order to take the bill from the Speaker's table, with Senate amendments thereto, and to consider in the House a single motion that the House concur in each of the Senate amendments. The Senate amendments and the motion shalll be considered as read.
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Passed Senate with amendments by Yea-Nay Vote. 64-36. Record Vote No: 71.
Senate roll call 71 · Individual votesPassed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with amendments by Yea-Nay Vote. 64-36. Record Vote No: 71.
Senate roll call 71 · Individual votesAmendment SP 290 agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.
Amendment SP 290 proposed by Senator Santorum.
Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S4694-4715)
Amendment SP 289 not agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 36-64. Record Vote No: 70.
Senate roll call 70 · Individual votesAmendment SP 289 proposed by Senator Daschle.
Amendment SP 288 not agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 28-72. Record Vote No: 69.
Senate roll call 69 · Individual votesAmendment SP 288 proposed by Senator Feinstein.
Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S4517-4575)
Measure laid before Senate. (consideration: CR S4431-4451)
Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 31.
Received in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
On passage Passed by recorded vote: 295 - 136 (Roll no. 65).
House roll call 65 · Individual votesPassed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by recorded vote: 295 - 136 (Roll no. 65).
House roll call 65 · Individual votesOn motion to recommit with instructions Failed by recorded vote: 149 - 282 (Roll no. 64). (consideration: CR S1230)
House roll call 64 · Individual votesThe previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection.
DEBATE - The House proceeded with ten minutes on the Frank motion.
Mr. Frank (MA) moved to recommit with instructions to Judiciary.
On motion to table the motion to appeal the ruling of the chair Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 265 - 165 (Roll no. 63). (consideration: CR H1228)
House roll call 63 · Individual votesMotion to appeal the ruling of the chair tabled.
Mr. Canady moved to table the motion to appeal the ruling of the Chair
Mr. Hoyer appealed the ruling of the Chair. The question was then put on sustaining the ruling of the Chair.
Mr. Canady raised a point of order against the motion to recommit with instructions. Mr. Canady stated that the amendment contained in the instructions to recommit would exceed the scope of the bill and was, therefore not germane. Sustained by the Chair.
DEBATE - The House proceeded with ten minutes of debate on the Hoyer motion.
Mr. Hoyer moved to recommit with instructions to Judiciary.
The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
DEBATE - The House resumed debate.
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 100, the House proceeded with two hours of general debate.
Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 1122 with 2 hours of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit. The measure will be considered in the House. Measure will be considered read. Bill is closed to amendments.
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 100. (consideration: CR H1202-1231)
Rule H. Res. 100 passed House.
Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 100 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 1122 with 2 hours of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit. The measure will be considered in the House. Measure will be considered read. Bill is closed to amendments.
Referred to the House Committee on Judiciary.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Primary sources
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Source last updated: Apr 7, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
AI Conversation Starters
Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.
Analyze H.R.1122 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.
Examine H.R.1122 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.
Examine H.R.1122 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.
Examine H.R.1122 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.